What’s on your Thanksgiving menu?

[Santamarina]

When we took over the holiday 10 years ago we had a lot of “leftover” food traditions that followed as expectations. First thing I got rid of was the ham - replaced by prime rib.

After even more iterations we realized we didn’t even need that, so the only meat we do is turkey. Spatchcocked at least, sometimes pieced. Even with big 18+ lb birds I’ve never had one take more than 2 hours in a convection oven.

We used to divvy up things and have each family (in-laws and my wife’s two sisters) bring a different dish. We found it was honestly easier to make it all ourselves - even with 14+ people. Sides have been solidified for the last two years.

Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Green bean casserole
Spicy cream cheese corn
Regular corn - for the young kids
Gravy
Cranberries - fresh dressing and canned jelly
Rolls and croissants

Dessert is pumpkin pie and cheesecake. Reddi-Whip is the proper topping for pumpkin pie, and if you say Cool Whip I’ll fight you! 😎🤣😎

[CRO]

Oven Roasted Turkey
Williams Sonoma Foccia Stuffing
Williams Sonoma Gravy
Gratin Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Cranberries
Green Beans
Various Deserts

Yep, I know a lot of potatoes. Everyone has their favorites.
I cheat, the only thing I actually cook on Thanksgiving is the Bird and Stuffing.
I make everything ahead and sous vide.

[JeffJ]

I don’t care about unusual sides. This is all anyone will see on my plate - kettle rotisserie turkey, white mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy over all of it and on a small side plate - homemade cranberry sauce.

[Jfrosty27]

I’m with you. Vegetable? Who needs it? Just the good stuff smothered in gravy. Yum.

[Santamarina]

I’ll add the green beans and spicy corn…but it’s ALL getting covered in gravy!

[OC Sandy]

We are doing a near complete departure from the usual Thanksgiving fare and instead we're going with a latin fusion menu. The only traditional (traditional to us) items will be the Pumpkin pie, and a long-standing family recipe of a layered jello mold that we call CJMT.

Thanksgiving Menu

Carnitas
Pozole Rojo
Black beans
Rice
Corn pudding
Flan
CJMT
Pumpkin pie
Tortillas
Ceviche
Wine/libations
Turkey shaped butter (representation matters 😉 )

[JCBBQ]

Yum!

[hoovarmin]

I want to eat at your house

[shify]

We just threw a very big party a few weeks ago for my daughter so decided not to host the family this year, so keeping it small with just the four of us. Still pretty much cooking a full menu, but the only difference is I'm likely just going to buy turkey parts (thighs and legs) instead of a whole bird.

The main course will probably be:

• Smoked Disney-style turkey legs
• Sous-vide confit turkey thigh
• Kenji's sausage and sage stuffing waffles (always make the full recipe and turn leftovers into waffles but may just skip right to the waffles this year)
• Mac and cheese
• Veggie of some sort
• Homemade bread of some sort (likely sourdough boule, texas toast or biscuits)
• Gin martini or manhattan

I'll also commit to making a dessert even though its not my thing - but told the family it is up to them to pick out what they want and I'll cook it

[JCBBQ]

One year I made leftover mashed potatoes waffles - possibly a Kenji recipe? - and it was really good but that was the only thing I made in my waffle maker so we gave it away v

[shify]

JCBBQ - see I did the exact opposite. We had one of those waffle irons with the non-removable plate and after making stuffing waffles the first year, I could never fully clean it. So upgraded to a bigger waffle iron with removable plates pretty much just for stuffing waffles.

[fzxdoc]

Stuffing waffles sounds like a great way to justify a waffle iron with removable plates purchase.

K.

[JCBBQ]

Trying some new things this year.

-Turkey porcetta (SV then deep fry to get it crispy and crunchy on the outside) New
-Smoked and confit beef cheeks and, inspired by my trip to Mexico City, a mole sauce. New
- Creamy garlic mashed potatoes
- Turkey gravy
- Cranberry sauce w orange zest and Cointreau (that’s my fave)
-Cippolini onions w a balsamic glaze.
- Brussels sprouts w a blue cheese and honey dressing (just tried this the other day for the first time and it’s amazing) New
- Sweet potato bacon and spinach. New

Mrs JC’s dessert menu is undecided so once she figures out what she wants to do I’ll make a couple ice creams to go with them.

[JCBBQ]

SheilaAnn yes! Got roasted walnuts and pomegranate w those Brussels (see below), and you’re right! Excellent!!

[hoovarmin]

That is one hell of a great sounding menu

[JCBBQ]

hoovarmin yeah I’m excited and we’ve got a lot of special guests coming to share it with. ❤️

[tamidw]

I am deviating from traditional turkey this year and going to make a brisket.

[JCBBQ]

I started doing both a few years back. Now switching to beef cheeks.

[Richard Chrz]

When the day comes that my parents pass, there will not be Turkey on our table either. It is purely for my parents.

[tamidw]

I said something to my brother and he said ‘ok, that will be good’. And my mom says ‘oh, sounds good.’ So I think I’m good. Haha! My mom is the pickiest.

[Skip]

Turkey
Stuffing/Dressing from a box but kicked up
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Squash Casserole
Corn
Cranberries
Homemade Rolls
Pumpkin Dessert of some kind

[hoovarmin]

I love squash casserole

[WI Bubba]

I've been tasked to do the turkey and pies. Lisa is doing deviled eggs, and my brother is supposed to be taking care of the rest.

I did a test run last weekend with a whole turkey in the hot tub time machine followed by a dunk in the deep fryer to reheat and crisp the skin. Learned a few things. but it was good enough to make it a go on the big day. Pies will be apple and pumpkin.

[radiodome21]

We’re hosting again, which I love. We’re always with my wife’s side. We have a full squad this year as the half that usually goes with their other respective in laws is joint us. I’m doing a turkey on either my kettle or WSM. My wife also does one in the oven. As for sides, well when you marry into an Italian family everyone brings something. I love hosting Thanksgiving. We run a morning Turkey trot in Chicago and then it’s cooking time. Sprinkle in some football and beers and it’s a blast. Glad to have the whole family this year too. It’s been a while.

[jayjordan]

Thanksgiving meal at my nieces house this year. Will be a memorable one as it's the first time in several years both my sisters and my brother will be there, as well as both my adult children and their family.
Menu so far:
Roast turkey
Ham
Smoked Turkey (I'm making)
Dressing
Mashed potatoes & gravy
Rolls
Sweet potato casserole (wife making)
Green bean casserole
Homemade cranberry sauce (I'm making)
Mac-n-cheese
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Other desserts

[JCBBQ]

Santamarina here’s the blue cheese dressing. But try it on the Brussels sprouts. It’s incredible. Basically split the Brussels in half. Toss w olive oil S&P and roast for 20-25 mins. Then toss everything Trust me on this one.

[Panhead John]

CaptainMike ‘s gonna wanna get in on this!

[JCBBQ]

Forgot one thing. The dressing is heated and melted together before applying to the sprouts

[SheilaAnn]

Perfect timing for the Team Cook!

I am volunteering on Wednesday to cook. So not sure about Thursday yet. But y’all are inspiring me!

[synodog]

Smoked Turkey Breast (3)
Air Fried Whole Turkey (1) and Whole Smoked Turkey (1)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and non-garlic Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Corn Soufflé
Butterhorn rolls
Green Bean Almondine
Orange Bowknots
Yams
Cranberry Sauce
and who knows what else dessert wise, but they're usually good

[LA Pork Butt]

synodog What are you air frying your turkey in? Charbroil Big Easy? How does your results compare with regular fried turkey?

[synodog]

LA Pork Butt yeah that’s the one. Nothing compares to deep fried with oil 😂 but the cleanup and maintenance, read: storage of the oil, had finally run its course for me. I tried out the big easy with a whole chicken and wings before turkey day last year and they were good. The turkey was pretty good too. It’s just not deep fried but I heard no complaints. A BIL really likes fried turkey so that was the test.

[Bkhuna]

Were going to be out of town the day before so we're eating out at a new place in the city on the way home. Time to fire up the local food guides and find something new and interesting.

[SheilaAnn]

Where are you traveling?

[Bkhuna]

SheilaAnn Tampa, FL. Unfortunately I can't plan any eating for the 25th or 26th. Orlando is on the way home and has a pretty good food scene and there are a few new and exciting places opened in our Chinatown section that are going to be open on Thanksgiving.